LATHRUP VILLAGE (AP) — Food stamps are getting more common at farmers markets around Michigan as a growing number of recipients look for locally grown food and sellers reach out for new customers.
“It’s opening up a world of access that has not been there before,” said Kathy Forzley, manager of the Oakland County Health Department. “It’s a perfect match in terms of it has tremendous benefits for the families and it also provides a new customer base for our local farmers.”
In 2006, when the Michigan Farmers Market Association was started, three markets in the state accepted food stamps. Today, 130 do so, the group says.
As more markets accept such benefits, low-income individuals are getting greater access to healthier foods, said association spokeswoman Amanda Shreve.
“Michigan just has amazing growth in farmers markets in general,” she told The Detroit News. The formal name of the national food stamps program is the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Its ranks have been growing, with about one in seven Americans getting aid.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has a lower figure for Michigan farmers markets participating in food stamps: 87 out of 304 such markets registered with the state.
Food stamps recipient Alicia Felix of Oakland County’s Royal Oak Township said cost and variety are the reasons she shops at The Lathrup Village Farmers market.
“I can purchase multiple things, fresh fruit and vegetables and get a better price than at the grocery store,” she said.
- Posted August 27, 2013
- Tweet This | Share on Facebook
Food stamp use growing at Michigan farmers markets
headlines Detroit
- Freelance court reporter enjoys serving as ‘guardian of the record’
- Federal judges approve redraw of Detroit-area state House seats ahead of 2024 election
- Many deserving candidates for Outstanding Hypocrite Award
- Daily Briefs
- LAWBreaks offers students pro bono lawyering opportunities over winter break
headlines National
- 50 Years of Service: ABA has been a ‘stalwart ally’ for LSC funding
- ACLU and BigLaw firm use ‘Orange is the New Black’ in hashtag effort to promote NY jail reform
- Biden recalls time he bluffed knowledge of torts case and why he changed his mind about civil-trial work
- Lawyers’ ‘barrage of personal attacks’ on opponents started with tissue-box toss, appeals court says
- Longtime prosecutor resigns after judge tosses him from case, citing Perry Mason-type revelations
- 24% of law students expect to work in public service, survey says